Obituary of Bradley Meister

Bradley Alan Meister, 59, of North Liberty, passed away Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Hospice Bird House in Iowa City after a courageous battle with cancer. A celebration of life will take place at the Hilltop Tavern in Iowa City on October 2nd from 2-5pm. Condolences may be sent online to Gay and Ciha Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to the Bird House of Iowa City. Brad was born April 29, 1963, to Larry and Delores Meister. He grew up in Solon and graduated from Solon High School in 1981, working summers at the boat rental at Lake MacBride beach, and later managing Sinclair gas stations in Iowa City and Coralville. For years he snarkily slung vinyl at the Record Collector amassing an enviable collection that any music enthusiast would be proud to own. He eventually held court as barkeep at several local establishments including the Dublin Underground and the Fox Head, collecting lifelong friends along the way, even a few Red Sox fans. He was a fixture of downtown Iowa City with a well-trodden path between The Deadwood, The Dublin Underground and George’s. He could be found at the end of the bar with one hand on a Bud Light and the other hand flicking his hair over his shoulder. Brad was able to coax his adolescent afro into a signature set of dreadlocks that he once sold in an impromptu fundraiser for a friend after a ski accident. Brad’s friends would say he was effortlessly cool. So cool in fact, that he was able to make driving a Pontiac Fiero seem hip, but his favorite ride was his Harley. He loved to roar down the open road, often with a female passenger hanging on tight. Brad was well known for his diet of Bud Light, cheese and Mountain Dew, but he was most passionate about hunting and eating morel mushrooms. Brad had an encyclopedic knowledge of baseball with a love of the New York Yankees that came from his dad, for which he received a fair amount of ribbing. He played baseball, watched baseball and especially talked baseball. He was very proud to be the 2021 MFA fantasy baseball champion and showed off pictures with the obnoxious trophy to prove it. He even requested that some of his ashes be put in this trophy. Brad had a knack for giving people nicknames and repeating them until they stuck. He also took sarcasm to another level by turning phrases into a wardrobe of t-shirts he wore everywhere. From childhood to adulthood, he amassed a huge beer can collection that when added to his other collectibles, would have easily funded his retirement. Brad is survived by his parents, Larry and Delores Meister of Solon, his sister Julie of North Liberty, and hundreds of amazing friends who will always be 29. His family cannot say enough about his friends. They have been so supportive in every way and even contributed to this obituary to help it be a loving tribute to his life. He is preceded in death by all four grandparents, his Uncles John and Peter, his Aunt Linda. Godspeed, Brad. May you reunite with family and friends who have gone before, have lots of cold beer and cheese balls, endless ravines full of morels, and a Yankees World Championship every year!